It Doesn't Matter, Charlie

Chapter 9 - Better Than You

I felt my stomach give a little flip. Thousands of screaming fangirls, dozens of amazing friends, and Charlie McDonnell wanted to be with me. He squeezed my hand a little tighter and I squeezed back, and we continued to head back out into the “gaming room”, where the food was. My stomach grumbled again and I laughed, shushing it. After piling our plates we went and sat next the door that led out to the deck, not making the mistake of going outside again.

I picked up my hotdog and bit it, then giggled. “What?” Charlie asked, looking at me funny.

I swallowed and said, “I could make this so inappropriate.”

He rolled his eyes. “I bet you could.”

“How much?” I asked, pretending to pull out my wallet.

His eyes widened. “No! Not really, it’s an expression!” he said, grabbing my arm. I turned my head back to him. His face was really close to mine. I liked it.

“I know. My wallet is in my other pocket,” I grinned devilishly.

He sighed but didn’t slump back, away from me. Instead, he remained sat up, our faces inches away from touching. I sat up too, even closer. “You love making a fool of me,” he said quietly.

“I also love the fact that you let me,” I say back.

“Did anyone ever tell you you have gorgeous eyes?” he asked. Whoa, subject change. I decided to go with it.

“My mom,” I said, looking at the floor, but then shooting them back up. “You do, too.”

“It doesn’t have the same effect when you repeat comments, Aimee Curben,” he smiled.

“I’m better at sounding like a smart ass than you,” I smiled.

“You’re better than me at a lot of things. I’m curious about…about this one thing though…” he looked down at the floor, shyly. I took my hand and placed it on the bottom of his chin, then lifted it up slowly until our eyes met again.

“And what’s that?” I asked.

And then he bent forward and kissed me. It lasted for a few seconds, but I felt as of my entire world had changed. I forgot about everything: my past, my future, even the present. Except this present, the real present, the only one that truly mattered. Slowly, we pulled away, but our faces were still only millimeters apart.

“So am I?” I whispered.

“Are you what?”

“A better kisser than you?”

I heard a soft chuckle. “I couldn’t tell,” he whispered to me.

“Try again?” I asked. And then we were kissing again, this time with a little more passion. I could feel his tongue poking my lips, and I opened them, until we were “that couple French-kissing in the corner, completely ignoring everything else going on”. I had secretly always wanted to be part of that couple.

Probably a good twenty minutes passed before we finally stopped when Charlie’s phone rang. I leaned against the wall with a smile. I was smiling to myself, really. That was my first real kiss, which I guess is sad for a twenty-year-old, but the only time I had ever kissed anyone else was during a game of truth or dare in middle school. I didn’t count that kiss, so Charlie was my first. “It’s Alex,” Charlie said, “wondering where we are. He’s up next.”

I nodded, a little sadly, wanting to stay here with Charlie. “Okay,” I sighed. He stood up, then reached down and pulled me up. “Thanks,” I said, turning towards the exit.

“Wait!” Charlie grabbed my arm.

“What is it with you and Alex grabbing arms?” I chuckled. He ignored me, though, looking at me intently. “What is it?” I asked, my expression growing serious.

“Uhm,” he said, looking around. I followed his gaze, but no-one was there. Then, satisfied with whatever he was looking for, he knelt down on one knee and smiled shyly up at me.

“Oh my, god,” I felt my face go bright red. “Are you…”

He took a deep breathe and said, “Aimee.”

“Yes, that’s me,” I couldn’t help but squeal.

“Would you…would you like to be…my girlfriend…by any chance?” he stumbled over his words.

I bit my lip to stop from squealing like a fangirl and nodded really hard, then dropped down to my knees and hugged him tight. “Yes! Yes, Charlie McDonnell, I will be your girlfriend!” And with that, I planted a kiss on his cheek, grabbed the remainder of my hot dog, and then grabbed his hand to go back to the stage to watch Alex perform.

—————

I hadn’t stopped smiling since he asked me. I was sitting in the corner of the stage, watching Charlie and Alex sing a song about Doctor Who. They hadn’t told me they were in a band that sang songs about Doctor Who. They had some explaining to do. They finished and bowed together, then Alex’s part was over. They caught my eye as they walked offstage and saw me clapping sarcastically. “Bravo!” I cheered, waving my arms around like some fancy 1700s French woman. They both reached a hand down and I grabbed both of them, being pulled up with a jump. I let go of Alex’s hand and kept Charlie’s, but Alex didn’t notice. We followed him back stage as the audience grew louder and louder. The show was over and people were leaving…and fangirling. Don’t get me wrong, there were guys there too, but the girls were just so overpoweringly loud! “So, guys,” I said once we were alone in a back hallway, “tell me about this Chameleon Circuit.”

The two of them looked at me. “We haven’t told you?” Charlie asked.

“No,” I said, annoyed.

“We’re in a band called Chameleon Circuit that sings songs about Doctor Who,” Alex explained everything I already knew.

“Yeah, okay, who else is in it?” I pushed him lightly on the shoulder.

“Us, Liam Dryden, Edd Blann, and Michael. Michael is also our producer,” Charlie told me.

“That’s so cool! And you have legitimate albums and stuff?” I ask.

“Two!” they chorus.

“I’ll have two listen to them,” I smile.

We were quiet for a moment when Alex asked, “Is there a reason you two are still holding hands?”

Charlie and I simultaneously looked at each other, both of us blushing. Sort of,” Charlie said.

I sighed and grinned at Alex. “Charlie just asked me to be…to be his…” The words were harder to say than I thought. They were so weird.

“Girlfriend,” Charlie finished for me, squeezing my hand.

“And I said yes, obviously,” I giggled, looking at our interlocked hands.

It took Alex a full minute to register what we said before he jumped up and down and hugged us. “This is fantastic! Charlie, with a girl!” he yelled enthusiastically. We couldn’t help but grin happily.

“Me, with a BOYFRIEND,” I gasped, and they laughed at me. I felt so happy. I never wanted this feeling to leave.